Loose-leaf binder



W. H. MURPHY.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5, 1920.

1 ,3 98, 388 Patented Nov. 29, 1921.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov.29, 1%21.

Application filed February 5', 1920. Serial to. 356,365]

To aZZ who-m it may concern Be it known that LW /ILLIA'M Mnnrrrr a citizen of the United States and a resident oi Independence. in the county of Jackson and State of h lissouri,

have invented certain new and useril improvements in Loose-Leaf Binders; and I do herebyjdeclare the following to be a full v clear, and enact description .otfithe same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings; forming part of this speciiication.

This invention relates to improvements in that type' o'l loose lea'i binders which comprises binding rings formed of a pair of curved mating binding 1)OS'tS,tl16 mating ends of which are adapted to be moved toward and away from each other to open and close the binding ringsfor the or removal of pages.

()ne object of the present invention is to provide a simple but substantial and' durable actuatlng and locking mechanism for the binding'rin'gs So as to render the binder less expensive to manufacture. A furtherqobjeet is to arrange the locking mechanism below the binding so that the entire "length of the latter may be utilized, thus securing a greater capacity for the book. Another object is to construct the actuating mechanism to positively lock the rings closed, but when the locking mechanism is released the rings will be opened byineans'of springs, thuseliminating the necessity of the user openin or closing the ringswith his fingers. i

in the accompanying drawings, lligure 1 is a crosssectional .view preferred form of loose leaf binder embodying the present invention. v i Fig. 2 i a perspective view of the back ofa binder with the mechanism assembled the binding rings bein shown opened and a part of the housing rolren away for the purpose oi": better illustrating the interior parts. I i

Fig. 3 is a similar view with the top of the housing removed and showing the rings closed. Fig. t is a plan view of the locking mechanism actuator. Y

Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the binding posts.

Fi 6 is a sectional view of a modified D I form oi mechanism and l-lanoLn 15 in the 'housin insertion by the back 11 of the binder and a top 12, ends the back 11 being turned upward to close the ends of the housing. Tue binding rings 10 each consistsof two curved. mating b; Qd'ng posts 13 pivotally secured on a pin 14- mounted in supports a coiled spring'lt being secured on the pin it and having its ends in engagementv with the binding posts to tension the bindingring open as shown Fig.2;

Below he binding rings 10 the supports 15 are'provided with apertures-17 in which is mounted a" longitudinally slidable locking bar or slide 18, one end of said bar being twisted as-at19 and its other ofi'set as at 20,

to prevent accidental displacement of the they will be locked by the bar 18. To permit the binding ringslO to be opened, the bar 18 is formed of a reduced width lIIPIOXlIll'.

opened by taking the boolr up by the leaves nor by dropping the book.

In themodification shown in Figs. 6 and- 7, the coil spring 16 heretofore described is dispensed with, and a curved plate spring 25-substituted therefor. The ends ofspring ity to each. of the binding posts,as shown at 22, 22, by recesses therein, the sides of posts,

and closing of the binding rings.

engage the outer sides of projections 21 and tend to force said side projections to- Ward each other and open the rings 10 when the bar 18 isni'oved to bring its recessed portions 19 in registry with said projections. The rings 10 are closedbythe bar 18 in the same manner as in the other type of binder. I r V i V V In a binder of this last form, the entire mechanism is located below the binding rings, thus giving the binder a maximum capacity. Funrthermore a spring such as the one used in this formof device is less liable to break, due to excessiveopening The top 12 which may be constructed of any suitable metal, is provided for the purpose ofcompleting the housing of the mechanism and to holda strip of cloth 26 in a fixed position across the back 11 and over the edges thereof. Notches 27 are formed in bar are movedintermediate the.

on the binding posts.

the top through which the rings 10 project" and the top is made sufficiently large to lit down over back ll with the cloth 26 be;

tween, and is fastened on back 11 bymean's of its edges being clenched down upon the cloth and against the backof plate ll-and further by the bent up ends of the back, one end of which is slotted to permit bar 18 to pass therethrough. Cloth 26 is provided for assisting in holding the book cover boards 28 to the housing of the mechanism, cloth 26 being glued to the inside of thecover boards 28 and the cloth on theiofutside of the cover boards being glued to the back 11.

What is claimed is: V 1. In .a loose leaf binder, the

with the back, of binding rings each corn-i prising a'pair of matingbinding posts or prongs pivotally mounted on said back, transversely spaced projections on the hind ing posts, said projections being on the exterior of said posts and located below; the binding surfaces of the posts, a locking bar below said posts and positioned between the projections of each. of said binding rings,

said bar being of reduced width adjacent eachpainof binding posts to form cam surfaces on each of its sides, said cam surfaces being adapted to engagei the projections on said rings when the reduced portions of the '2. In a loose leaf hinder, the combination with the back, of binding rings each com-c prising a pair of mating binding posts or prongs pivotally mounted on said back,

transversely spaced projections on the binding posts, said projections being" on the exterior of said posts and located below the binding surfaces of the postspaj lockingbar below said posts and positioned'betwcen the projections of each of said binding rings,

projections said bar being of'reduced width adjacent each binding ring to form cam surfaces on each of its sides, said vcam surfaces being adapted to: engage the projections on said posts to clese the binding rings, and a spring for each pair of bind ng posts and adapted to open the rings when the reduced portions of the bar are moved intermediate the pro jections on the binding posts.

ward each-other when the ring is opened.

and'away from each other when said ring is closed, 'saidprejections being located below the binding surfaces of the ring members, and a longitudinally slidable locking bar positioned between saidjprojections of suflicient width to force said projections apart whereby the ring may. "be locked I closed, said barbeing of reduced width adjacent the binding ring whereby said ring may be opened when the reduced portion is moved intermediate the projections.

t.v In aloose leaf hinder, the combination of a binding ring comprising a pair of mating binding" post members, transversely spaced pro ections formed on sald binding ringmemb'ers adapted to be moved toward and away from each other when the ring is opened and closed zrcspectively, a spring positioned below the binding ring and en- V f gaging saidprojections adapted to move said combination W projections toward each other and yield- 7 ingly hold the ring, open, and a locking bar to move said ring closed. a l,

5. In aloose leaf binder the combination with the back, of spaced transverse supports positioned between said projections adapted pro ections apart and hold said carriedby said baclneach of said supports 1 having: an aperturetherein, binding ring :posts pivotally mounted on the supports,

meansfor" yieldingly holding the binding rings open, and, a locking bar slidably mounted in the apertures in the supports for locking said rings in closed position.

6. In a looseleaf hinder the combination with the binding rings each composed ofa V i pair ofposts, supports. for sald posts, said supports each having an aperture therein below the binding ring posts, a depending locking bar slidably "secured in said apertures for engagement with the projections on the posts whereby said posts maybe closed, said bar being of reduced width adjacent each'ring, and a spring for opening 7 projection on the lower end of each post, a 

